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Things to do in America

Holidays in the USA are all about enjoying the Great Outdoors. And when you look at all the things to do in America, we guarantee you'll see just how great it really is. From hiking in the Grand Canyon or Yosemite National Park or the great Appalachian Trail, bear watching in Alaska, sea kayaking in Acadia National Park in Maine, to camping in the Rocky Mountains. The pickings are rich. And put aside any preconceptions about travel in the USA. It’s wild, and it’s wonderful.

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Things to do in America

A walk in the park

It’s like Christmas every day for hikers in the USA particularly with the uber-impressive network of 60 national and over 6,000 state parks. State parks are generally smaller than national parks, with some exceptions such as the Adirondacks State Park in New York State, bigger than Yellowstone, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Great Smokies and Yosemite national parks combined. And less of a drive from Manhattan than the Lake District is from London.

The Appalachian Trail is one of the most famous long distance hikes but, at over 3,000km long, seek out the best stretches. Such as the White Mountains of Maine and New Hampshire, just 200km from Boston. Do as locals do and stay in traditional hiking cabins which have hosted hikers along the Trail for as long as it has existed. Other great ones beyond the classics include the Amphitheatre Lake Trail in Grand Teton National Park, or Seven Mile Hole Trail in Yellowstone. Many of the parks offer bus shuttles to trailheads too. Travel with a responsible tour operator and they’ll know all the best routes anyway, what times to hit them, and how long they will take. And check our guide to USA’s National Parks.

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farm to fork? in Colorado we found vine to wineglass, grain to glass, peach to prosecco and bison to burger.

Eat, drink and be merry

The US food movement is transforming from fast to slow with Farm to Fork, as it is better known, more prevalent in New York, for example, than London, Paris or Tokyo. California, Colorado, Washington, Oregon and the Deep South are wonderful places to imbibe local brews and feast on local fare. They won’t look at you strangely if you ask what’s local on the menu. They get it.

ON MY FIRST DAY HIKING IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, I CAUGHT SIGHT OF A RARE BALD EAGLE. GOD SAVE AMERICA.

Wildlife watching

There are bison in Yellowstone, caribou and grizzly bears in Alaska and bighorn sheep, bears and elks in Colorado. Some are scary, others are just stunning, but they are all wild. So read up in advance, bring your binoculars, stay aware of what’s out there, take precautions but most of all, enjoy.

Travel Team

If you'd like to chat about USA or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

Water way to travel

Americans really know how to do the great outdoors. The canoe is indigenous here, after all, and the country is criss crossed with rivers and other waterways where you can paddle along to your heart’s content amid glorious natural scenery. So there is no shortage of paddling possibilities in the USA such as rafting and wild camping along the Grand Canyon’s Colorado River or sea kayaking in Acadia National Park in Maine, which gives you access to caverns and coves only accessible by water.

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Best time to visit America

The best time to visit America is all year round, although the winter season on the east coast can often find flights brought to a standstill due to thick snow or fog.

USA travel guide

Our USA travel guide takes you around the national park wonders in the Rocky Mountains, the deserts and canyons of the West, the culture-rich Deep South and the littoral loveliness of both east and west coasts, as well as road trips!

Places to visit in America

There are so many wonderful places to visit in the USA, and many that might not be on your radar, such as the Rocky Mountains, the glaciers of Alaska or whale watching in Hawaii.

Things to see & do in Alaska

Home to America’s 10 highest peaks, vast glaciers, volcanoes, fjords and all of it populated by an extraordinary range of wildlife from bears and wolves to whales, Alaska is one of the world’s last great wildernesses.

Things to see & do at the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon National Park is an American icon, a great slash in the desert carved by the Colorado River over millions of years: 446km long, 29km at its widest point, and almost 2km deep.

Things to see & do in the National Parks

The National Parks of the USA are crown jewels in the country’s natural heritage, some such as Yellowstone and Yosemite are renowned for their wildlife, others such as the Grand Canyon have become iconic.

Wildlife in the USA

Forget the people dressed up as cartoon animals in theme parks, the most exciting wildlife sightings in America are those to be had in the Great Outdoors, especially the country’s superb network of national parks.

Things to see & do in Yellowstone National Park

Where would you guess is the most geothermally active place on Earth? No Googling to cheat: Not Iceland, not New Zealand - it’s Yellowstone National Park, with around 10,000 geothermal features.

Things to see & do in Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park, high in the mountains of California’s Sierra Nevada, is true Land of the Giants territory, with some of the largest living trees on Earth and the tallest waterfall in the United States.

Family holidays in America

Travelling in America with kids takes you way beyond the clichés into natural theme parks and, although it often does feel out of this world, we mean that in the best way possible.

USA travel advice

Our main USA travel advice is to leave your pre-conceptions at home - be prepared for a very outdoorsy holiday, with slow food, wildlife at every turn, and unforgettable landscapes.

Responsible tourism in the USA

There are various responsible tourism issues in the USA, from the Leave No Trace campaign in national parks, to being safe around wildlife, and taking care in the Great Outdoors.

All our USA guides

All of our USA guides in one place, featuring particular locations such as Alaska or Colorado. Or perhaps you want to know more about different types of USA holidays we offer such as cruising or wildlife in the USA.